Tuesday, November 27, 2007

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- All 10,400 soldiers in the Ohio National Guard -- along with everyone else who wears an Army uniform -- have been ordered to watch a 30-minute video about combat trauma and mental health. It says that mild traumatic brain injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are real injuries that should never be ignored. The video openly says the risk comes from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The order is below. It is short and to the point. And you can watch the training film yourself (probably worth a half hour of civilian time to see what the troops are facing) by clicking on the link that says "video:"

"Mandatory Training: All units must watch the MTBI and PTSD video from the Battlefield Training System Office...video"

The upbeat officer who introduces the training film is Brig. Gen. Matthew L. Kambic, the Army Guard's top commander in Ohio. After he speaks for about two minutes, the meat of the film unfolds. It's not really dramatic, but it describes what life can be like for a soldier who is dazed and confused.